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Spiritual Speculation Space

Resurrection?

May 2, 2024

Discussion Questions

These questions are just to help get the discussion going. They do not need to be discussed in order and conversation outside of the bounds of these questions is welcome. 

  1. When did you first encounter the idea of resurrection? Was it linked to the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus, or something else?

  2. Is it surprising to you that there was dispute over the resurrection of believers between different sects of Judaism when Jesus was travelling and teaching (see Matthew 22 below)?

  3. Is there value in maintaining some incredulity at the idea of resurrection?

  4. Has the resurrection of Jesus had a faith-related, emotional, or experiential  influence in your life?

  5. Does the experience of spring in the natural yearly cycle in wilderness areas shape your views on the idea of resurrection?

  6. The resurrection of Jesus is a central pillar of Christianity. In the contemporary religious right movement however, other ideas have been elevated to occupy much more "air time". How would it impact the current social polarizations we're facing if the idea of the resurrection became pre-eminent again in the most media-dominating expressions of Christianity?

  7. What do you think of the idea of universalism as it relates to the resurrection of Jesus, and of all people?

  8. Has someone you love ever died? Has that experience influenced what you think about resurrection?

  9. Do you embrace or reject mystical and/or mysterious ideas? What gives some mystical concepts veracity while others are less respected?

  10. For many Christian theologians throughout history, including Paul of Tarsus, it was very important that Jesus’s resurrection be accepted as physical (IE: an actual living flesh and blood body) rather than only spiritual (IE: a ghost or a vision). What are your thoughts on this?

Discussion Background Materials

Luke 24 (NRSVUE):

36 While they were talking about this, Jesus[l] himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”[m] 37 They were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see, for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.[n] 41 Yet for all their joy they were still disbelieving and wondering, and he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish,[o] 43 and he took it and ate in their presence.

44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah[p] is[q] to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses[r] of these things. 49 And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Matthew 22 (NRSVUE):
23 The same day some Sadducees came to him saying there is no resurrection,[a] and they asked him a question: 24 “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies childless, his brother shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother.’ 25 Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married and died childless, leaving the widow to his brother. 26 The second did the same, so also the third, down to the seventh. 27 Last of all, the woman herself died. 28 In the resurrection, then, whose wife of the seven will she be? For all of them had married her.”

29 Jesus answered them, “You are wrong because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection people neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels of God[b] in heaven. 31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is God not of the dead but of the living.” 33 And when the crowds heard it, they were astounded at his teaching.

John 12 (NRSVUE):
23 Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain, but if it dies it bears much fruit. 

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (NRSVUE):

3 For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures 4 and that he was buried and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.[b] 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

John 13 (NRSVUE):

36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” 37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.

Christian Universalism (All are saved)

            and

Universal Resurrection (multiple religions - All are resurrected, but not necessarily saved) 

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